In 2006, the International Amber Association celebrated its 10th anniversary. The organisation associates manufacturers and merchants from the amber industry, artists who create amber works of art and the collectors of natural specimens and historical amber artefacts. The Association also includes researchers from various scientific fields who deal with amber-related issues. The Association has currently 233 members, including 69 members from 23 countries from throughout the world, including the USA, Germany, the UK, France, Canada, Spain, India, South Africa and the Dominican Republic.
Since 1997, the Association has been granting certificates to recommend firms which have committed themselves to meeting the organisation's criteria, including the exclusive use of Baltic amber in their products and maintaining the principles of good trading practice.
Firms recommended by the Association must not sell pressed amber.
The IAA provides training courses on amber, organises amber expert courses with the lecturers including the most distinguished Polish amber researchers and the most experienced practical specialists, and organises trade missions and trips to trade exhibitions abroad. The Association also supports amber-oriented tourism through such ventures as demonstrations of amber jewellery making, amber fishing and mining, as well as lectures on the history of amber and inclusions.
The Expert Committee working for the Association has created a Baltic Amber Classification System, which covers all the stages of the amber manufacturing process and trade and the correct terminology which is to accurately inform customers about the type of amber stones used. The experts of the IAA are consulted by publications in Poland and abroad, travel agencies, economy research centres and many official agencies.
BURSZTYNISKO, the IAA's official magazine, is a bilingual (Polish-English) information bulletin which contains news about what is currently going on in the industry and popularises amber research and knowledge about amber.
The IAA Office distributes the latest specialist literature on amber as well as books, postcards, posters and amber advertising labels printed by the Association, adapted to the needs of small shops, galleries and wholesale outlets, and published in Polish, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
